Apparatus for the display of embedded information

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for the electronic display of information, where the apparatus is a substrate incorporating a digital recording medium attached to or embedded within the substrate. The substrate further includes a flexible-substrate display located on an exposed surface of the substrate, where the display is a medium capable of selectively displaying one of at least two possible colors at each pixel location thereon in order to produce a substrate medium that may be modified in accordance with a user&#39;s selection.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of and claims priority from U.S.patent application Ser. No. 14/490,906, filed on Sep. 19, 2014, andhaving an issue date of Jun. 5, 2018 as U.S. Pat. No. 9,990,030, whichis a continuation of, and claims priority from the following, U.S.patent application Ser. No. 13/422,017 filed Mar. 16, 2012 by MichaelWeiner, titled “APPARATUS FOR THE DISPLAY OF EMBEDDED INFORMATION” whichis a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 12/210,378 filedSep. 15, 2008 by Michael Weiner (U.S. Pat. No. 8,159,463 issued Apr. 17,2012) titled “APPARATUS FOR THE DISPLAY OF EMBEDDED INFORMATION”, whichis a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/860,916 filed May 18,2001 by Michael Weiner (U.S. Pat. No. 7,429,965 issued Sep. 30, 2008)titled “APPARATUS FOR THE DISPLAY OF EMBEDDED INFORMATION”, which claimspriority from Provisional Application 60/205,451 by Michael Weinertitled “DOCUMENT WITH EMBEDDED INFORMATION,” filed May 19, 2000, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference in their entirety.

The following related application is also hereby incorporated byreference for its teachings “DOCUMENT WITH EMBEDDED INFORMATION,”Michael Weiner et al., abandoned application Ser. No. 09/860,734 filedMay 18, 2001.

BACKGROUND AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates generally to the display of embedded information,and more particularly to the combination of a digital memory and asubstrate to produce a self-contained information storage and displaydevice, such as a “book-on-a-chip.” However, the present invention isnot limited to traditional substrates, and may include cloth or wallcoverings, and “e-paintings” that are mat-able.

The present invention is an apparatus for embedding digital informationwithin a document substrate and displaying that information via thesubstrate. It has long been desirable to capture, in electronic formatthe image found on the printed page. To facilitate this need, manyorganizations use image scanners and optical character recognitiondevices. However, scanning or digitizing a document image can be quitedifficult, particularly when one seeks to accurately redisplay such animage or to modify it.

It is known, as demonstrated by companies such as E Ink Corporation, andXerox' Palo Alto Research Center (PARC) that a thin, flexible substratemay be used to produce re-writeable images, in dual (e.g., black andwhite, blue and white) or multi-colored formats. However, the presentinvention is directed to the combination of such media or displaytechnology with an embedded or associated data source so as to make thecombination useful—taking the display technology from a mere novelty toa practical and time-saving device in accordance with the variousembodiments described herein.

As is suggested herein, it is possible to store and access informationassociated with a substrate that also displays all or portions of thestored information. For example, display means such as e-ink, electricpaper, gyricons, etc. may be used to produce a “book-on-a-chip” orsimilar display device. Furthermore, the present invention is notlimited to traditional paper substrates, and may include textiles andfabrics such as clothing, where a user might be able to wear thesubstrate as a T-shirt or a “baseball cap” and where the information orappearance of the cloth substrate could change. Other applications aswill be described herein include wall coverings and “e-paintings” thatare mat-able, placemats, etc.

As will be appreciated by those familiar with the new displaytechniques, the advantage of re-writeable substrate materials, combinedwith a tailored information source (content including text, images,etc.) is that a user then has a portable system by which the informationmay be accessed. Furthermore, such a system may make it easier for auser to become accustomed to reading a “book” using this new technology.

Heretofore, other patents and publications have disclosed the embeddingof information, the relevant portions of which may be briefly summarizedas follows:

U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,407 to Weiner teaches a means of embedding memoryinto a book and then searching a microchip or other memory using acommon connector. If this system were to come into vogue then copiersand printers could output to that type of memory and connector, and takeadvantage of an installed base of users.

Xerox Corporation announced in 1998 an “electronic staple” that holdsthe URL address of one or more pages on the Internet that relate to theprinted page. Similarly, electric paper described by Sheridan et al.,and an alternative invention by MIT Media Lab (E-Ink) disclosemechanisms for dynamically displaying information on a flexiblesubstrate. These pages can be imaged electronically and have a varietyof advantages and differences from ordinary paper that is taught in U.S.Pat. Nos. 5,708,525, 5,751,268, 5,914,805 and 6,055,091 assigned toXerox Corporation, and as also described by J. Jacobson et al. invarious papers and patents prepared on electronic paper, electronicbooks and “e-ink,” including U.S. Pat. Nos. 6,017,584, 6,124,851 andpublication WO 00/67110

In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provideda substrate for the electronic display of information, comprising: adigital recording medium associated therewith, where information may bestored by the digital recording medium attached to the substrate; and anupdateable substrate display located on an exposed surface of thesubstrate, wherein said substrate display includes a display mediumcapable of selectively displaying one of at least two possible colors ateach pixel location thereon; where the substrate display changes statein response to a signal generated from information stored in the digitalrecording medium.

One aspect of the invention is based on the recognition of anopportunity for the use of new technologies in association withconventional goods. In particular, the development of flexible-substratedisplays, and small, embeddable memory devices allows the novelcombination of the two to provide improved uses thereof, includingconsumer goods, packaging, information sources, etc.

The present invention is advantageous because it can be producedinexpensively and is reusable, compared to other approaches, providing away in which to display information or to alter the appearance of goodsusing the flexible-substrate displays. The invention can be adapted toany of a number of consumer goods and applications. The techniques ofthe invention are advantageous because they provide a range ofalternatives, each of which is useful in appropriate situations. Some ofthe techniques can be used to modify or alter the appearance of goods,or information displayed thereon, in response to a user's request.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIGS. 1-3 illustrate various embodiments for a substrate in accordancewith one aspect of the present invention;

FIGS. 4-7 illustrate particular applications of the substrate of FIG. 1in conjunction with a flexible-substrate display in accordance withanother aspect of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a block diagram of circuitry employed in accordance with thepresent invention;

FIGS. 9 and 10 are perspective illustrations of alternative embodimentsfor aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of another alternative embodimentof the apparatus depicted in FIG. 7;

FIG. 12 is an exemplary illustration of an “electronic patent”embodiment in accordance with aspects of the present invention;

FIG. 13 is an orthographic representation of an embodiment in which thepresent invention is integrated with a well-known product as a visualreference;

FIG. 14 is an illustration of an application of the present invention inassociation with the display of a photographic image, includingadditional output features;

FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a self-adhesive backed substrate as maybe practiced in accordance with aspects of the present invention; and

FIG. 16 is a side view of a machine suitable for the mass production ofsubstrates in accordance with the present invention.

The present inventions will be described in connection with a preferredembodiment, however, it will be understood that there is no intent tolimit the inventions to the embodiment described. On the contrary, theintent is to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalents asmay be included within the spirit and scope of the inventions as definedby the appended claims.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

For a general understanding of the present invention, reference is madeto the drawings. In the drawings, like reference numerals have been usedthroughout to designate identical elements.

Referring to FIGS. 1-3, there are depicted illustrative embodiments ofan aspect of the present invention. In particular, there is shown asubstrate sheet 20 having a memory device 22 embedded within or attachedto a surface thereof. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the embedded memorydevice 22 is physically embedded within or between one or more layers ofthe substrate, possibly during its manufacture, so as to be concealedfrom visual detection by a viewer of the substrate. The substrate 20 mayinclude a paper or comparable textile-based substrate, a portion ofwhich may be conducive to various marking, copying, printing orsilk-screening tasks, such as ordinary bond paper, cloth or linen paper,of any size, weight and color; and may also include other materials suchas transparency materials, vinyl, labels, card stock, vellum, cotton,Nylon®, polyesters, Tyvek®, etc. As described below, other componentsassociated with the memory may also be embedded with or affixed to thesubstrate material. It is further contemplated, and applicable to manyof the applications described below, that the substrate may includeanother, upper layer to waterproof, weatherproof or otherwise seal asurface of the substrate from its environment. Such a substrate may beused outdoors, perhaps affixed to the outside of a vehicle or structure.

It is also understood that all or a portion of the substrate, a layerthereof, or a display area associated therewith, may be in the form ofelectric paper employing twisted balls or cylinders, gyricons, as taughtby Sheridon et al., for example, in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,708,525, 5,751,268,5,914,805 and 6,055,091 assigned to Xerox Corporation, and as alsodescribed by J. Jacobson et al. in various papers prepared on electronicpaper, electronic books and “e-ink.” Moreover, such display substratematerials, while flexible by design, may be employed in embodimentswhere the substrate and associated display are maintained in a rigidcondition (e.g., a frame-mounted and/or matted configuration).

Similarly, in the embodiment of FIG. 3, the embedded memory device 22 isphysically attached to a surface (upper or lower) of substrate 20. Inany of the various embodiments, it is intended that the substrate beusable in the same manner as conventional paper, textiles or similarsubstrate materials. Such uses necessarily include ink and xerographicprinting, silk-screening, photography, painting and other methods ofplacing marks or images on the substrate, as well as post-markingmanipulation of the substrate. As contemplated by the present invention,the substrate may be employed as “pages” in an electronic book, asproduct packaging, or as an article of clothing wearable by a user.

The embedded memory 22 is preferably a type of semiconductor memory.Semiconductor memory continues to enjoy the benefits of increasingcapacity and reduced cost, and flash memory and equivalents now allowputting information in memory without the time consuming and costlymasking process traditionally associated with programmable devices.Information can be burned into semiconductor memory on demand.

Embedded memory device 22 may also be a chip, a strip of bubble memory,or a laser imageable surface, as described, for example, in U.S. Pat.No. 4,835,376 to Drexler, and as described in an article by Wired News,“Inventor Warns MS on Patents,” by James Glave, 5/11/98. Alternatively,the memory may be in the form of a conventional magnetic tape or strip(e.g., recording tape or magnetic card strip) that is embedded orapplied to the substrate. In yet another alternative embodiment, theembedded memory may be an optical or laser—imageable medium such asfound in a CD ROM, wherein the embedded memory can contain informationembedded by laser on the flat surface and later read by a reader.Examples of such technology are U.S. Pat. No. 4,835,376 to Drexler. Inany of the various substrate-memory embodiments, it is possible toeither embed into the print/copy substrate, or to affix onto it,embedded memory 22, positioned in such a way as to allow information tobe transferred into the memory, and for information to be retrievedtherefrom.

Depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5 are other possible embodiments of a digitalrecording medium associated with the substrate—one employing a “MemoryStick” recently introduced by Sony or similar detachable memory device.In FIG. 4, the present invention is illustrated in the form of awearable hat 18 whereas in FIG. 5 the invention is depicted as an itemof clothing such as a T-shirt 19. In both of the embodiments, memory inthe form of a memory 23 is an ultra-small, high-capacity durable mediadesigned to link a host of different digital products by capturing andsharing digital content—whether images, text or audio (e.g., music)files. Sony's line of memory stick products includes Cyber-shot digitalcameras, Handycam camcorders, VAIO personal computers, a Memory StickWalkman personal stereo, a voice recorder, a Memory Stick printer, theCyberFrame digital photo frame, and AIBO entertainment robot. Thestorage device is available as a 64 MB capacity Memory Stick, and largercapacity.

In the memory stick, a tiny microcontroller connects to a flash memorychip on one end. On the other end a 10-pin flat-contact connector withguide grooves on the Memory Stick's underside ensures reliable dataexchange up to a million times. A compatible flat-contact connection orport 30 would be required to be connected to the display 32 and othercircuitry components in the present embodiment. Because data iscontained on a silicon chip instead of on a tape or disk, no motor,magnetic head or optical pickup is necessary. This allows products to besmaller, lighter and more efficient. Memory Stick's RAM holds data foran indefinite period and withstands heat, dust and rough handling.

As depicted in FIGS. 4 and 5, each of the wearable embodiments mayinclude a port, preferably having a controller 30 associated therewithfor processing data driving or controlling the display 32. Moreover,such a system would require a power source such as a replaceable battery36 or renewable portable power supply (e.g., a photovoltaic array (notshown) which may also be integrated with the substrate or article wornby the user). As a further aspect, depicted for example in FIG. 4, anexternal signal generator such as switch 38 may be employed to allow thewearer to alter the display between one of a plurality of displayselections available in the memory.

The Memory Stick provides instant data transfer, and data can berecorded, erased and re-recorded. In a preferred embodiment, theembedded memory device is not only flexible in nature, preventing itfrom interfering with the normal or intended use of the substrate, butalso very dense in terms of the information that can be stored thereon.Embedded memory 22 and removable memory 23 are both preferably suitablefor use in storing information, such as information related to theimage, on the substrate. For example, the stored information may includea bitmap image(s), an alternative version of the document (e.g.,text-only, translation for another language), information relative tothe transfer or reproduction of the document image, or othermachine-readable information relevant to the document (e.g.,bibliographic, footnotes, related URLs, appendices, indexes, etc.).

Referring next to FIG. 6, there is depicted a semi-permanent version ofthe present invention, where a significant portion or the entiresubstrate 20 is in the form of a flat, matted substrate, perhaps withina frame 40, hanging or otherwise mounted on a vertical surface such aswall 43. In the embodiment depicted, the substrate displays a mapthereon. The map may be permanently printed on the substrate andinformation updated on the map, for example, to illustrate the locationof mass transit vehicles such as subway trains; where real-time dataupdates would require the transmission of information from a source ofvehicle information, perhaps broadcast and received by an associated,local radio receiver connected to the display.

In the embodiment depicted in FIG. 6, the entire substrate may be thedisplay 32, where the information displayed may default to a map, butmay change in its detail, or entirely alternative content, in responseto an external signal. Another example of such a signal could be touchsensitive switches placed behind or in operative association withdisplayed buttons 44, where a series of display controls (e.g., zoom+/−) and display menu selections (food/drink, shop, museums, etc.) maybe depicted, each of which might bring up a different display or mapdepicting the requested information. Such buttons could include matrixor pressure- or touch-sensitive sensors so as to sense contact with thesurface of the substrate. A user seeking additional information abouthis/her present location could tap or touch the “you are here” locationor button areas, to see more detailed information (restaurants,transportation, retail stores, lodging, etc.) much in the manner thatinformation is provided to users of MapQuest® or similar software andworld-wide web systems that are commonly available.

Therefore, as depicted in FIG. 6, the present invention may be used as asubway or public transportation interface where a user can selectivelyaccess maps, transportation schedules and routes, and evenadvertisements via a wall-mounted display substrate. Rather than anexpensive computer-terminal kiosk, the present invention could beintegrated within a wall-mounted frame accessible to the user.Furthermore, instead of the substrate itself, a frame or a cover glassmay provide the touch-sensing capability, providing signals that wouldbe provided to a display controller as described herein.

Use of a flexible display substrate with embedded memory as a piece ofcloth or integrated into clothing or other coverings (e.g., wallpaper,framed pictures, etc.) would potentially include:

a) a changeable pattern using gyricon-type or other re-writeablesubstrate technology that can either be selected using external power orinternal power sewn or otherwise connected therein;

b) changeable information messages such as a banner that scrolls acrossa hat, animated characters that move along a shirt, jacket or pants,programmable patterns including moving and securing them in a positionwhen desired, such as to cover up a stain;

c) an outside lamination of an item such as a room divider or a wall (ordesk, or file cabinet, or chair, etc), wherein the color and/or patternof the wall or room divider can be changed from time to time as desiredby the customer, and where the electronic circuitry drivers (not shown)affecting the change can either be part of the wall or room divider, ordesk, or file cabinet, or chair, etc., or they can be imaged as neededby placing them against an imaging or “exposure” surface with driversbuilt in, or by using a handheld wand for electronically “refinishing”the image. The handheld device would contain the same type of EMF orelectrostatic emitting waves that drivers in today's configuration useto alter the displayed images.

The techniques and embodiments for such a display could be applied tovirtually any surface that can be covered with or made out of thevarious multi-state display technologies. These coverings (wall,surface, upholstery, etc.) can also serve as message boards, movingpatterns, changing scenes, such as the outdoors, movies, pictures ofvistas, harbors, mountains, etc.

In accordance with the various embodiments of the present inventionalready described, it is intended that the substrate itself provides themeans for displaying, and possibly controlling or altering theinformation embedded therein or associated therewith. As is furtherdepicted in the embodiment of FIG. 7, and as described, for example inU.S. Pat. No. 5,517,407 for a “DEVICE FOR INCLUDING ENHANCINGINFORMATION WITH PRINTED INFORMATION AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC SEARCHINGTHEREOF” a “book” may have not only embedded memory associatedtherewith, but also may include flexible substrate pages for the displayof information in the form of a “book.” Such pages are suggested by theflexible-substrate (e.g., gyricon or e-ink) displays enabled by thetechniques taught by Sheridon et al. in, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos.5,708,525, 5,751,268, 5,914,805 and 6,055,091 assigned to XeroxCorporation, and as also described by the MIT Media Lab in variouspapers prepared on electronic paper, electronic books and “e-ink” andU.S. Pat. Nos. 6,017,584, 6,124,851 and publication WO 00/67110, all ofwhich are hereby incorporated by reference for their teachings. Inparticular, the system depicted in FIG. 6 is preferably comprised of asubstrate 20 that is a twisted-ball (or twisted-cylinder), orelectrophoretic ink display capable of outputting the information storedin the embedded memory 22 associated therewith. It is furtherconceivable, as depicted in FIG. 6, that the substrate is formed usingthe techniques proposed by Sheridon, and includes a power supply 36(e.g., lithium battery such as employed in watches, rechargeablebatteries, a photovoltaic energy supply, or an AC adapter) as well asuser-interface buttons or keys 24 (page forward, page back). Inoperation, the information stored in the embedded memory 22 is displayedas a series of pages, perhaps imitating a book format, where thesubstrate 20 is oriented in a landscape orientation, and where thesubstrate includes a pair of opposing “pages” 26 separated alongcenterline 28. For further description of the details of an electronicbook, the teachings of U.S. Pat. No. 5,517,407 to Weiner are herebyincorporated by reference.

In such an embodiment, a user who wishes to read the “contents” of thebook that are stored on the digital recording medium would simply pushor touch the location indicated by the buttons 24 to move the displayedpages forward or backward. As will be appreciated by those skilled inthe art, buttons 24 require a pressure- or touch-sensitive switch thatis associated with the embedded memory 22. In addition, the substratewould require circuitry, possibly an embedded processor or controller30, suitable for updating the displayed information in response to auser request (e.g., depressing page buttons 24).

It will be further appreciated that any such em bedded memory, operatingin conjunction with a display capability as described herein may requirecircuitry for reading the information stored on the embedded memory andtransferring and/or processing the information for display. A simpleblock diagram of such a system is depicted in FIG. 8. In the system, amicrocontroller 30 (possibly including a connector/port operativelyassociated therewith) or similar device is used to read information frommemory 22. The data read from the memory is then processed so as to makeit suitable for driving a substrate-integrated display 20 or 32. It willbe appreciated that the function of the controller 30 may simply be as avideo driver, controlling signals suitable for displaying the datastored in memory. However, controller 30 may be enhanced to furtherreceive inputs from other sources such as switches (user manual inputs)or similar sensors (visible light, infra-red radiation, pressure, audio,etc.) that will allow the system to respond to external conditions. Itwill be further appreciated that the power for generation of a sensorsignal may be derived from the sensors themselves, for example apressure sensor could employ a piezoelectric or triboelectric effectwhile an optical sensor signal could be generated by a photovoltaiceffect.

As described above, the user operable switch(es) or sensors may enableselection of the information to be displayed, such as pages of a book.The addition of a light sensor might allow the display to adjustbrightness or contrast, or mode (dark text on light background or lighttext on dark background) in response to the level of light detected.

Additional alternative embodiments of the electronic substrate displayinclude a means for downloading information to the embedded memory, suchas a direct port connection. In addition to the methods and techniquesdescribed above, it may also be possible to employ radio-frequency (RF)of infra-red (IR) transmission mechanisms, with a suitable port orreceiver connected to or associated with the substrate, so as to allowcontent to be downloaded from computer or other information terminals.For example, the “book” embodiment of FIG. 7 contemplates the ability toinsert the substrate into the paper feed tray of a copier/scanner,wherein digital copies of each of a plurality of documents are scannedand then stored on the embedded memory 22 for subsequent display on theregions 26 of the substrate. In this manner, a user may view acollection of scanned documents, e-mail, recipes, bank statements,newspaper, etc. In a further alternative, it may be possible to downloadthe information from an optical memory card, such as that described inU.S. Pat. No. 4,835,376, or a computer able to load data into theembedded memory.

In yet a further alternative embodiment, a system employing thesubstrate to display a map could interface to a global-positioningsystem (GPS), where the location coordinates could automatically beupdated on the map, showing the user his/her direction of travel, andpossible progress since the last updated position. An example of asystem providing such information in a laptop interface, is found inDelorme's Earthmate® Road Warrior and Earthmate® GPS Receiver. Morespecifically, a portable GPS device may be connected to a displayoperating in accordance with the invention described above, so that amap (preprinted or stored on memory associated with the display) is ableto be updated to show a user's current location. It is understood thatsuch an application will require communication of the scale andcoordinate coverage of a particular map being displayed, which could beembedded in the map in a chip or other media which makes contact withthe GPS, such as by pin contacts, or other interface mechanism.Additionally, one might embed or mount onto a printed map which hasgyricon or e-ink type capability this system and rewrite the entire map,including where you are, and even enlarge the map to scale or shrink itlike the maps on interactive map/direction web sites.

Turning next to FIGS. 9 and 10, two alternative applications of thepresent invention are depicted. In particular, the embodiments depictedin FIGS. 9 and 10 include use of a substrate having memory and anassociated display mechanism so as to enable a product or a product'spackaging to be interactive and to provide information or other feedbackin response to a user. As depicted in FIG. 9, a can of soup 70, orsimilar good, may include a container 72 that is at least partiallysurrounded by a label substrate 74. Substrate 74 may further includevarious elements described above so as to allow the product label to beprogrammable and interactive. For example, a portion of the label may bea display 32 made of gyricon or electrophoretic ink material. Display 32may be further connected to and controlled by a micro controller 30 orsimilar programmable device having a memory (not shown) associatedtherewith to store information to be selectively displayed. Alsoincluded in, or associated with, the label substrate is a power source78 in the nature of a small battery or a photovoltaic cell. In a nominalcondition, display 32 may simply depict the traditional label image orinformation. However, display 32 may also depict additional productinformation (e.g., ingredients list or nutritional information, perhapsin multiple languages). Furthermore, additional information such assuggested recipes might be stored and displayed on such labels, perhapsin response to user selections via a touch-sensitive switch or sensor80. It will be appreciated that sensor 80 may be a pressure sensitiveswitch or matrix, or may be in the nature of one of the sensorsdescribed above.

Referring to FIG. 11, a similar embodiment for the present invention isdisplayed, where the substrate is the product packaging, this time inthe nature of a cereal box 84. It will be appreciated that variouspackaging materials might seek to employ such an invention, includingfast-food franchises catering to children with childrens meals in a box.Box 84 preferably includes a semi-rigid paperboard substrate having adisplay 32 and other components associated with it. Here again, display32 may be formed in association with the substrate, or may be added at apoint during the preparation of the packaging. For example, as will bedescribed in further detail below, the entire display, control, memoryand power apparatus may be pre-fabricated and simply affixed to the boxas it is being manufactured.

In addition to a display associated with a paperboard container 86,cereal box 84 also includes a power source 78, a controller 30, and aseparate memory 22. It is further contemplated that the box may beconstructed in such a manner as to allow a user to interact with thedisplay through touch/pressure sensitive sensors 80. Moreover, althoughit may be possible to allow potential consumers (children who purchasefor the game and parents who purchase for the food contained in the box)to see a demo of the game on the display by pressing button 86 (DEMO),it is further contemplated that the full game may not be available orusable until a sensor (not shown) located inside the box 84 isactivated. In other words, a demo of the game could be seen, however, apurchase of the goods must be completed in order to access the contentsand activate the sensor to enable the complete game. As used herein, theterm game is intended to include not only interactive video games as arewell known, but also various contests requiring disclosure ofparticipation rules, or other information of interest to those inclinedto read cereal boxes and other product packaging.

FIG. 11 is a perspective illustration of an alternative embodiment ofthe apparatus depicted in FIG. 7, where substrate 20 has been producedin the form of a tri-fold brochure 90. In the embodiment depicted,brochure 90, includes a paper or similar substrate 20 and a display 32.Again, the information available for display is retained within a memory22, which is in turn accessed (read from and written to) via the methodsdescribed herein, and includes a controller and power source (not shown)so as to be responsive to a reader's selection through pressuresensitive buttons 24 or other suitable sensing or signalling mechanisms.It is also contemplated that the embodiment of FIG. 11, or otheralternatives described herein, may include a thin, flat speaker 92,suitable for replaying audio information stored in memory 22 as well. Asindicated in regions 96 and 98, brochure 90 may also include informationprinted on substrate 20 in a conventional fashion.

FIG. 12 is yet another possible application of the present invention,this time as an “electronic patent.” In the embodiment depicted, it iscontemplated that, much like the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 11, a patentmay be printed using one or more display substrates 32 on a commonsubstrate 20 so as to display all or parts of an issued patent. In thisway, as such substrates become common and less expensive to manufacture,the patent could be “printed” on a single substrate having the abilityto display images in one region thereof and textual information in theother. Moreover, pressure sensors underlying buttons 24 could be used toallow a user to scroll through the images and textual columns of thepatent. Depending upon the length of the patent and the size of thememory (not shown) associated with the substrate, it is also conceivablethat appendices and other information may be provided with the“electronic patent.”

FIG. 13 is an orthographic representation of an embodiment in which thepresent invention is integrated into the dashboard 102 of a vehicle. Asdepicted by this embodiment, the present invention may be integratedwith a component of the product it is intended to be used with or for.Accordingly, the usefulness of the product may be maximized, as relevantinformation is made immediately available to the user. Returning to theFigure, dashboard 102 includes a complete substrate 104 with a memory(not shown), display substrate 32, power source (not shown), touchsensors 24 and control logic (not shown), all integrated into a smallpanel that may be affixed to the dashboard of an automobile or within aglove or other compartment.

In the embodiment depicted, the memory (not shown) may be pre-loadedwith information relating to various features of the vehicle or productor a complete user and service manual. It is also possible that thememory associated with the display may be updateable, so that when thevehicle or product is serviced, the service or other current informationcan be recorded in the memory for subsequent retrieval or display.

Turning next to FIG. 14 there is depicted another application of thepresent invention in association with a photographic image 112. Thepresent invention is contemplated for use as a backing material for aphotographic substrate, where the invention may store digital audioinformation on memory 22 for replay to a viewer of the photograph.Furthermore, the application can be provided with an adhesive layer toaffix it to the photograph, or without adhesive to allow it to be reusedwith multiple photographs, for example, within a frame.

More, specifically, one or more touch sensitive switches 24 may beemployed at positions behind, or embedded within, the photographicsubstrate, to sense pressure exerted by a viewer. Upon sensing suchpressure, the switches signal controller 30 to begin downloading andreplaying digital audio information stored in the memory 22; the digitalaudio information being converted to signals suitable for creatingaudible information via speaker 92. In such a situation, it may not benecessary to include a display 32, particularly if the substrate is usedfor a photograph. However, the embedded memory remains and the speakerbecomes an additional or alternative means for representing theinformation stored in the memory 22. It is also contemplated that theembodiment of FIG. 14 may include one or more regions that employ adisplay substrate (not shown).

Turning lastly to FIGS. 15 and 16, depicted therein is an embodiment ofthe present invention made for ready attachment to other substrates, anda simple machine for facilitating such attachment. More specifically,FIG. 15 is a perspective view of a self-adhesive backed substrate 20.Substrate 20 includes various elements previously described, such as apower source 36, controller 30 and memory 22, all interconnected viacircuitry and a controller so as to enable the information stored inmemory 22 to be displayed via display 32. In the event that thesubstrate needs to be updated or reprogrammed, an optional connector 120that is ported to the controller is included. It should be furtherappreciated that substrates such as those depicted in FIG. 15 aresuitable for affixation to any surface, including other substrates,brochures such as described above, etc. The substrate may be affixed toanother surface by removing a backing sheet 126 so as to reveal aself-stick or adhesive layer 124 on the rear surface of the displaysubstrate. It is also contemplated that an individual, located forexample at a computer workstation where programming of memory 22 can beautomated, may produce a low-volume quantity of such substrates.

FIG. 16 is a side view of a machine suitable for the mass production ofsubstrates such as those depicted in FIG. 15, including the applicationof an adhesive and affixation to another sheet or substrate. Referringto FIG. 16, depicted therein is an assembly apparatus suitable foraffixing one or more display substrates and components associatedtherewith to a secondary or backing sheet or substrate. Moreparticularly, the machine 140 includes a hopper or input stack 142 thatcontained a plurality of substrates 20 (preferably including a memoryand a display) arranged with bottom feeding as is known in the paperfeeding arts. One modification to the hopper 142 may be the addition ofan interface 144 suitable for connecting to and programming the memoryin the memory/display substrate in the event that the substrates are notpre-programmed. A similar hopper 146 is provided for the storage orstaging of backing sheets or pages that are to have memory/displaysubstrates attached thereto.

In response to a network command to prepare one or more of suchmemory/display substrates affixed to a sheet, controller 150 initiates aprocess whereby substrate 20 and sheet 152 are fed. Once separated fromtheir respective stacks, the substrate and sheet are advanced toward anip 156, where the two components are to be forced into contact with oneanother, attempting to affix one to the other. Initially, substrate 20may be shifted in position (perpendicular to the feed direction) so asto align the substrate with a desired position on the sheet 152. Onceshifted, a glue or similar adhesive material may be applied to theunderside of the substrate 20, using a brush/reservoir combination 160,before the substrate is placed into contact with the sheet. Oncecontacted, the two components are fed through a nip 156, where they arejoined by the application of pressure at the nip, and are then fed tooutput tray 170. In this manner, a memory/display substrate may beprepared and affixed to the surface of any printed goods (e.g., cerealcartons, can labels, etc.).

In recapitulation, the present invention is an apparatus for theelectronic display of information, where the apparatus is a substrateincorporating a digital recording medium attached to or embedded withinthe substrate. The substrate further includes a flexible-substratedisplay located on an exposed surface of the substrate, where thedisplay is a display medium capable of selectively displaying one of atleast two possible colors at each pixel location thereon in order toproduce a substrate medium that may be modified in accordance with auser's request.

It is, therefore, apparent that there has been provided, in accordancewith the present invention, an apparatus for the electronic display ofinformation. While this invention has been described in conjunction withpreferred embodiments thereof, it is evident that many alternatives,modifications, and variations will be apparent to those skilled in theart. Accordingly, it is intended to embrace all such alternatives,modifications and variations that fall within the spirit and broad scopeof the appended claims.

What is claimed:
 1. An apparatus comprising: a flexible informationprocessing and transmission layer having information processed andtransmitted thereby; a non-transitory digital recording medium disposedon the flexible information processing and transmission layer andstoring the processed and transmitted information; and a flexibledisplay medium disposed on the flexible information processing andtransmission layer such that the flexible display medium is flush with asurface of the flexible information processing and transmission layer,selectively displaying one of at least two colors at a plurality ofpixel locations of the flexible display medium, and indicating a changein state responsive to a signal generated using the processed andtransmitted information.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thenon-transitory digital recording medium comprises semiconductor memory.3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory digitalrecording medium comprises ROM.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein thenon-transitory digital recording medium comprises a chip.
 5. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the non-transitory digital recordingmedium comprises embedded memory.
 6. The apparatus of claim 1, whereinthe non-transitory digital recording medium is flexible.
 7. Theapparatus of claim 1, wherein the flexible display medium comprises aflexible substrate, and wherein the non-transitory digital recordingmedium comprises a memory device that is sufficiently flexible toprevent interfering with a normal or intended use of the flexiblesubstrate.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a controllerconnected to the non-transitory digital recording medium and to theflexible display medium; and a rechargeable battery connected to thecontroller.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus isfoldable.
 10. An apparatus comprising: a flexible information processingand transmission layer having information processed and transmittedthereby; a digital recording medium disposed on the flexible informationprocessing and transmission layer and storing the processed andtransmitted information non-transitorily; and a flexible display mediumdisposed on the flexible information processing and transmission layersuch that the flexible display medium is flush with a surface of theflexible information processing and transmission layer, selectivelydisplaying one of at least two colors at a plurality of pixel locationsof the flexible display medium, and indicating a change in stateresponsive to a signal generated using the processed and transmittedinformation.
 11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the digitalrecording medium comprises semiconductor memory.
 12. The apparatus ofclaim 10, wherein the digital recording medium comprises ROM.
 13. Theapparatus of claim 10, wherein the digital recording medium comprises achip.
 14. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the digital recordingmedium comprises embedded memory.
 15. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe digital recording medium is flexible.
 16. The apparatus of claim 10,wherein the flexible display medium comprises a flexible substrate, andwherein the digital recording medium comprises a memory device that issufficiently flexible to prevent interfering with a normal or intendeduse of the flexible substrate.
 17. The apparatus of claim 10, whereinthe apparatus is foldable and further comprises: a controller connectedto the digital recording medium and to the flexible display medium; anda rechargeable battery connected to the controller.
 18. An apparatuscomprising: a flexible information processing and transmission layerhaving information processed and transmitted thereby; a digitalrecording medium disposed on the flexible information processing andtransmission layer and storing the processed and transmittedinformation; a flexible display medium disposed on the flexibleinformation processing and transmission layer such that the flexibledisplay medium is flush with a surface of the flexible informationprocessing and transmission layer, selectively displaying one of atleast two colors at a plurality of pixel locations of the flexibledisplay medium, and indicating a change in state responsive to a signalgenerated using the processed and transmitted information; a controllerconnected to the digital recording medium and to the flexible displaymedium; and a rechargeable battery connected to the controller, whereinsaid processed and transmitted information is stored in a non-transitorystate.
 19. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the digital recordingmedium comprises semiconductor memory.
 20. The apparatus of claim 18,wherein the digital recording medium comprises semiconductor memory, andwherein said processed and transmitted information is stored in thenon-transitory state in the semiconductor memory.